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Detroit Lions vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: Live updates, highlights from preseason finale
Why Detroit Lion Giovanni Manu’s first NFL game was so special
Detroit Lion Giovanni Manu played in his first NFL game in August, 2024. That game was special because it was a chance to make his parents proud.
The final Detroit Lions preseason game has arrived.
The Lions take on the Pittsburgh Steelers at Ford Field on Saturday afternoon in the final exhibition game of the preseason. It is the final chance for the coaching staff and front office to determine who will make the opening day 53-man roster for the season opener against the Rams in 15 days.
PREGAME READ: ‘Miracle child’ Mitchell Agude vying for spot with Detroit Lions years after accident
There aren’t many spots left up for grabs on the Lions’ contending-level roster, a testament to the roster overhaul in the last three seasons, but Campbell said earlier this week there were around a half-dozen slots still open. The Lions’ starters will rest, allowing young players and the depth pieces to fight for those spots. Here’s Dave Birkett’s prediction of what the 53-man roster may look like by the deadline at 4 p.m. on Tuesday if you are curious.
[ Lions fans: Get ready for this season by reliving the team’s epic 2023 season with a new book from the Free Press, “From Grit to Glory.” Order now! ]
This is the only preseason game this year at Ford Field and kicks off at 1 p.m. The game will be aired on Fox 2 in Detroit (WJBK) and streamed on NFL+ and Fubo (free trial) and the 97.1 WXYT-FM radio airwaves.
Follow along below for live updates from Ford Field.
Detroit Lions vs. Pittsburgh Steelers preseason live updates, highlights
The Lions have had no success on offense in the first half with Hendon Hooker running the show. The Lions went three-and-out again after a third-down sack sank the drive again. This time, left tackle Giovanni Manu was beaten off the edge, forcing Hooker to step up into edge rusher Julius Welschof, who beat center Kingsley Eguakun in the middle. The Lions have seven net yards after four possessions with two first downs and are 2/6 on third-down conversion attempts. The Lions have given up four sacks and Hooker has struggled to find a rhythm navigating the collapsing pocket.
The Steelers quickly turned the fumble into a touchdown to double up the Lions early. Justin Fields came into the game for the second series to replace Russell Wilson under center. The Steelers kept the ball on the ground for all but one play, methodically moving the ball through Lions territory outside of a 22-yard Fields completion to tight end MyCole Pruitt, who slipped behind linebacker Ty Summers while Fields was moving outside of the pocket. After a holding call against defensive tackle Brodric Martin on the goal line, Perine stuffed it home on a read option from a yard out.
Hendon Hooker, making his home debut with the Lions, got the start over Nate Sudfeld to lead the Lions backup offense, but the first possession did not go as planned. The Lions picked up one first down on a nice extended play by Hooker, finding tight end Shane Zylstra, but took three straight sacks on the next set of downs, including a strip sack on third down, giving the ball to Pittsburgh at Detroit’s 35. Herbig got around starting right tackle Colby Sorsdal and slapped Hooker’s arm while he was cocking to throw, jarring it loose.
The Steelers starting offense got things started with a 60-yard touchdown drive lasting just over two minutes. Starting quarterback Russell Wilson converted a 3rd-and-11 with a 32 yard gain on a flag route to George Pickens, who easily separated from corner Essang Bassey. Two plays later, Cordarrelle Patterson took an off-tackle run to the left and made Brandon Joseph miss for the big touchdown run.
Pregame notes
The Lions will roll with the quarterback duo of Nate Sudfeld and Hendon Hooker as the two continue to battle for the backup spot behind Jared Goff. Campbell said Tuesday the last preseason game is critical for Hooker, who will be playing in his third NFL game ever and had to leave the first preseason game early.
“We want to get (Hooker) a real good look,” Campbell said. “We’d love to get him a lot of reps this week. I think the idea would be, you’d love to start him this week. I’d like to start him, and then it’s just a matter of how much does he play? Is it a couple of series and Nate goes in and then he’s back? Or is it a quarter or is it a half? But he’s going to get a really good look.”
TRENDING: Parents of Detroit Lions draft pick Giovanni Manu witness son play in person for 1st time
Rookie Sione Vaki has been one of the early stars of the first two preseason games as a receiving option out of the backfield and should handle plenty of work against Pittsburgh along with Craig Reynolds, Zonovan Knight and Jermar Jefferson. The depth options at receiver behind Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams and Kalif Raymond are fighting for a spot and the last game will determine who makes it between options like Donovan Peoples-Jones, Isaiah Williams and Daurice Fountain. The depth pieces on the offensive line, particularly the interior, will also be under a close look to find the last backup for Detroit’s top unit.
On defense, the main competition is at edge rusher and in the secondary. The final safety spot likely comes down to C.J. Moore and Brandon Joseph while Khalil Dorsey, Kindle Vildor and Steven Gilmore fight for a spot at cornerback. Isaac Ukwu, Mitchell Agude and Mathieu Betts will all get extensive playing time at edge to determine the final backups on the defensive line.
Pittsburg, PA
Fan suffers ‘life-threatening’ injuries in fall at Pittsburgh Penguins game, officials say
The Pittsburgh Penguins and the Pittsburgh Public Safety Department confirmed that a fan fell from the upper bowl of PPG Paints Arena during the game between the Penguins and the St. Louis Blues on Oct. 27.
The Department said in a statement posted to Facebook that an adult male fell from the 200 level of the arena at around 7:15 local time, striking a individual located in the suite level below before continuing to fall to the 100 level.
Pittsburgh EMS paramedics transported the individual to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries, according to the statement. The person struck on the suite level was evaluated by paramedics on scene and declined transport to the hospital, officials said.
The Penguins said in a statement posted to X that the team and OVG Management Group, which operates the arena, are monitoring the situation and “our concerns remain with the individual and his family at this time.”
USA TODAY has reached out to OVG Management Group for further comment.
After the game, the Penguins’ Sidney Crosby — who became the ninth player in NHL history to surpass 1,700 career points — seemed more focused on the well-being of the fan who fell than his own personal milestone.
“We just heard someone fell tonight,” Crosby said. “Doesn’t feel right to be talking about points. My thoughts and prayers to that person.”
This is a developing story
Pittsburg, PA
Aaron Rodgers wasn’t seeking ‘revenge’ against the Packers, who gave him a reality check instead
PITTSBURGH — Aaron Rodgers spent the week insisting his first-ever game against the Green Bay Packers wasn’t personal. That he wasn’t looking for revenge against the team he defined for the better part of two decades.
Good thing, because there was none to be had on Sunday night in Pittsburgh’s 35-25 loss to Green Bay.
Instead, there was only reminder after reminder that while the 41-year-old Rodgers can still compete at a high level, the team that surrounds him remains very much a work in progress. And maybe an iffy one at that.
Rodgers threw for 219 yards and two scores in Pittsburgh’s second straight loss, the first time he’s ever looked across the field and watched the Packers celebrate victory on the other.
“Disappointed,” Rodgers said. “Disappointed that I didn’t play better, that we didn’t play better, especially in the second half.”
Rodgers spent 18 years in Green Bay building a resume that will one day land him in the Hall of Fame. Four MVPs and a Super Bowl title will do that. Yet rather than retire as a Packer, Rodgers kept going.
That journey eventually brought him to Pittsburgh, where he is serving as a highly skilled stopgap to whichever franchise quarterback might come next. Rodgers has shown flashes that he can still bring it when he has to in his 21st season. But the days when his brilliance can almost single-handedly overcome his team’s considerable warts are over.
Pittsburgh Steelers’ Aaron Rodgers throws during the second half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025, in Pittsburgh. Credit: AP/Sue Ogrocki
After a promising 4-1 start, the Steelers have dropped two straight and while Rodgers has no interest in riding the weekly roller coaster that is the NFL season, he’s also well aware there’s too much for Pittsburgh to address for him to get caught up in playing “remember when” when talking about the Packers.
Rodgers spent a chunk of the pregame catching up with old friends, many of them members of the Green Bay support staff who have remained following his departure.
Yet when he was introduced to a loud and long ovation while wearing Pittsburgh’s garish or inspired (depending on your perspective) throwbacks, Rodgers was all business. All Pittsburgh.
He deftly guided the Steelers to four scoring drives in the first half while building a 16-7 lead. The problem is, three of those drives ended in long field goals by Chris Boswell instead of touchdowns.
Green Bay Packers’ Rashan Gary sacks Pittsburgh Steelers’ Aaron Rodgers during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025, in Pittsburgh. Credit: AP/Sue Ogrocki

“Bos bailed us out on four incredible kicks, but when you’re playing good teams, you need to score touchdowns, and we stalled out in the high red zone,” Rodgers said.
Green Bay righted itself offensively after halftime behind Love — who at one point tied a franchise record by completing 20 straight passes — and Rodgers and the rest of the Steelers couldn’t keep pace.
Pittsburgh’s first five possessions in the second half went punt, field goal, punt, punt, fumble. A wholly unnecessary 15-yard penalty against wide receiver DK Metcalf blunted a late drive before it even started. A fumble by running back Kenny Gainwell set up a Green Bay field goal that effectively put the game out of reach.
“We can’t beat ourselves,” Rodgers said. “I think in the three losses, there’s been times where we’ve had opportunities and we’ve hurt ourselves with turnovers or just negative plays. So we got to cut those out. We got to get on the same page on offense and defense and keep the faith.”
That faith will be tested in the coming weeks. Pittsburgh welcomes AFC South leading Indianapolis next week before a trip to Los Angeles to face the Chargers. There is plenty to clean up, particularly on a high-priced defense that has looked overmatched for long stretches and has now not produced a turnover in three straight games.
If there is a saving grace for Rodgers, it’s this: there are no longer any more former teams for him to face this season. Seven weeks after his tenure with Pittsburgh began with a four-touchdown masterpiece against the Jets, he watched Love put on a Rodgers-like performance while he and the Steelers sputtered at key times.
Afterward, Rodgers and Love shared a brief embrace at midfield, with Love putting in a request to get a signed jersey from the man who showed him what it means to be a professional quarterback.
And as discouraged as he might have been at the final score, Rodgers also couldn’t help but take notice of his protege, the player who looks and plays at times an awful lot like his mentor.
“He played great,” Rodgers said. “He played fantastic. He’s had a really nice season. He’s been really efficient with the football.”
All sentences that have been used to describe Rodgers at times during his career. Just maybe not on Sunday, when nostalgia gave way to the reality that there is work to be done if Rodgers wants his one-year coda in Pittsburgh to end on a more upbeat note than his time in Green Bay did.
Pittsburg, PA
Winning Thoughts: Blue Jackets stick with it to earn two points in Pittsburgh | Columbus Blue Jackets
After CBJ wins, we’ll give three takeaways about what stood out or what we’ll remember from the Blue Jackets’ victory.
BLUE JACKETS 5, PENGUINS 4 (SHOOTOUT)
1. In a crazy game, the Blue Jackets showed their resilience yet again.
Saturday night had just about everything – eight goals, two reviews, a fight, some dramatic saves and, finally, a shootout.
And considering just how back-and-forth it was, one of the key factors that allowed the Blue Jackets to leave Pittsburgh with a rare win was how the Blue Jackets kept their heads on their shoulders.
That might sound a little crazy considering Columbus led by a 4-2 score with 10 minutes to go, then proceeded to do exactly what you don’t want to do in that situation. The Blue Jackets took back-to-back penalties, leading to a power-play goal by Kris Letang that cut the lead to one, before the Penguins got an extra-attacker tally to tie it with 3:06 to go.
Columbus had largely dominated the puck throughout – they had a 36-15 advantage in shots on goal at 5-on-5 – but the late penalties allowed the Penguins to get back in the game and got PPG Paints Arena rocking.
So, yes, that wasn’t ideal, and what did most CBJ fans think after Bryan Rust’s tying goal? Likely: Well, we’ve seen this movie before, and we don’t like the ending.
But it wasn’t over, in large part because the Blue Jackets stuck with it. It wasn’t always perfect – see Ivan Provorov’s heroic save of a shot off the line in overtime – but the Jackets had their chances as well before Kent Johnson, Adam Fantilli and Kirill Marchenko went good morning, good afternoon and good night in the shootout. It marked just the fourth time in team history the Jackets went 3-for-3 in a shootout and the first since 2011.
“I think there’s some perseverance obviously by the group,” head coach Dean Evason said. “Our commitment was fantastic, and our composure was good when it could have went sideways again. They held their composure, and we were able to get the job done.”
2. There were several CBJ standouts in this one, but how about the play of Yegor Chinakhov and Dmitri Voronkov?
As the Blue Jackets were summoned for postgame questions in the PPG Paints Arena locker room, two players made sense to chat.
There was Dmitri Voronkov, whose sixth career two-goal game was a huge part of the victory. And then there was Yegor Chinakhov, who was a healthy scratch to start the season but has built his game over the past few contests and put the Blue Jackets ahead in the third period with his first tally of the season.
There’s also the little issue of Voronkov not speaking much English, so Chinakhov did double duty. First, he answered questions about his game, then he served as a translator for Voronkov.
As for Chinakhov, his play has taken a notable step up in the past few contests. After he notched a single shot on goal in his first two contests after stepping in for the injured Miles Wood, Chinakhov has nine in the last three games, and his wired wrist shot past goalie Arturs Silovs just 1:55 into the third period put the Jackets up 3-2. It was vintage Chinakhov, who has the quick release and heavy shot to beat goalies clean from almost anywhere in the offensive zone.
“I like scoring,” Chinakhov said. “It feels great. I love the hockey, so I just try to be better every day.”
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